Amsterdam

Our final leg of our travels in Europe ends in Amsterdam, unfortunately. By this point, I am at a strange point of being simultaneously exhausted and energized--exhausted from too many hours spent on a coach and energized from seeing Germany and heading to Amsterdam. The way to Amsterdam was relatively uneventful; it was quite clear when we had come into Amsterdam because the countryside changed from hilly to flat and filled with windmills. This was also the last time Franz would be driving us, so it was a bittersweet moment when he dropped us off at the hotel in Amsterdam.

After we checked into the hotel, Mark took us to Rembrandt square before letting us go for the rest of the day. Amsterdam is a very different animal from any other city I've ever been to--and that includes US cities. It is a city of canals and bicycles, and here, the bicycles, not the cars or the people, rule the road. If you don't move out of the way, you will get hit, but not before hearing an angry bell ringing. I had no idea a bell could sound angry, but the bike bells in Amsterdam do. As a result, I found that the people were pretty aggressive and intolerant of unawareness.

Amsterdam is full of bright flashing colors and shops that very explicitly showed their wares...if you know what I mean. It puts Las Vegas to shame. The fact that marijuana is legal there as well as the fact that Amsterdam is known for its Red Light District means that even the souvenir shops are full of references to these famous bits of Amsterdam. Let's just say that there were a lot of moments that were full of embarrassed laughter in these shops as we looked for some appropriate (and legal) souvenirs to bring back.

We found a place to eat that was highly recommended by Mark. We had Rijsttafel (please don't ask me to actually pronounce it in real life, I couldn't tell you if my life depended on it), otherwise known as "rice table." It is essentially a 19 course meal, served family style. If you have ever had dim sum, it is very similar to that in terms of portions and numbers of dishes. It was quite an experience, and a tasty one at that. After our meal, we headed out to enjoy the nightlife, which was awesome because Amsterdam is the world's capital for EDM, or electronic dance music.

The next morning, we headed out for a presentation by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). This presentation was given by Ilja Linnemeijer, the assurance partner and tech leader, and Robbert-Jan Ossebaar, the corporate recruitment manager. This presentation was very professional and relaxed at the same time, which impressed all of us. They began by talking about what Amsterdam is known for: the Dutch East India trading company from the very roots of Amsterdam; EDM; bikes; windmills; canals; the Red Light District, etc. Mr. Linnemeijer and Mr. Ossebaar then launched into talking about what PwC was about.

PwC provides industry-focused assurance, including tax and monetary services. They aim to build trust in society and solve important problems, and have three lines of service: audit and assurance; tax and human resource systems; and advisory services. For their audit and assurance services, they audit annual accounts and advice about the quality of financial processes and systems while also providing insights into opportunities and risks in the organization. Their tax and HRS service includes direct and indirect tax consultation, international mobility assignments, people and organization, and tax reporting and strategy. Finally, their advisory sector deals with financial reorganization and forensic research, guidance and support of mergers, acquisitions, and business recovery services, as well as strategic and management consultations. Essentially, PwC is a firm that works for many sectors by providing professional services, including audits. 

Some of these sectors include financial services, the public sector, retail, private companies, energy, technology, etc. It is a huge firm that employs 4,300 employees and has 11 offices in their Amsterdam branch alone. The presenters also spoke about how they recruit and what they are looking for in a professional. As most of us are business majors, it was a pertinent topic for us and we asked a lot of questions in regards to this matter. The presentation concluded with a lunch provided by PwC and a networking opportunity with PwC employees. 

I was very impressed with PwC. While the other presentations were impressive and very informative, this one seemed to be the most relevant to who we were as students and future professionals. We left PwC feeling important, valued, and impressed by what we saw.

After the PwC presentation, we had a wrap-up discussion for the group. It was heartfelt and we shared our various experiences with each other, as well as our bittersweet goodbyes and memories for each other. Some of us even cried. It's amazing what two weeks together in a strange continent can do!

After our discussion, we headed out on the tram to the Heineken Experience. It is the site of the first Heineken brewery that has now been turned into a museum and interactive experience for its visitors. We saw the first medals that Heineken had ever won, as well as the progression of the models of the bottles that the beer was held in. It was very cool--there were so many interactive things to do inside the brewery, including two glasses of Heineken that were included in the trip. I even won a free .25 L of Heineken for answering a question! I couldn't drink everything though, since I hadn't eaten much at the lunch and I'm a small girl. We learned everything from how beer is brewed to the horses that Heineken sponsors (and housed in the brewery) and finally how to properly drink beer. 

The Heineken Experience

We left through the souvenir shop, where I picked up a bottle of Heineken with one of my best friend's name engraved on it as well a couple other personalized things for my other friends. It was such a cool experience and perhaps the most fun "presentation" that IBS offered. After the Heineken Experience, we went back to the hotel, changed and rested before heading out for the night again. We visited the Red Light District just to say we did, and it was quite an experience. We didn't spend very much time in there, but it was interesting for the short time we were there. 

Rachel, Joseph, Claudia, Su, me, and Zack at the Heineken Experience

The next day was a free day. We got up early to travel to the Anne Frank Museum and waited for about an hour to gain entry into it. The wait was worth it. It was an incredibly intense and somber experience. I had a lump in my throat and goosebumps all over for much of it. It was powerful and something I can't really describe. We sat in the cafe after going through the entire house, mostly in silence, thinking about what we had just experienced. To see a place where fear reigned, where silence ruled and potentials stifled...it is something that I hope no one ever has to experience. Yet is happens every day in places all over the world, where persecution is common in certain areas. 

We left Anne Frank somber and quiet. We had to move on though, so we decided to take a tour of the canals on a boat. It was interesting, but because of how the boat was built, it wasn't conducive to taking good photos, so I will spare you those blurry photos. After the boat tour, we grabbed some lunch at a cafe and I had my first experience with stroopwafels. They are these flat waffles, with caramel in between two wafers and meant to be softened over a cup of hot tea or fresh coffee before enjoying. It was delicious and the whole pack was gone in a matter of minutes.

After lunch, we headed to the torture museum that was right next to the hotel. This was interesting and kind of horrifying--there were no demonstrations or very graphic images, just the actual instruments of torture, but it was chilling to see them regardless. Spikes can be used in a number of creative and terrifying ways. It's disgustingly amazing how creative humans can be when they wish to inflict pain. I'll spare you some of the details, but needless to say, I had sympathy goosebumps for the victims. 

Horrifying to imagine what this might have felt like

We split up after the torture museum as some of us wanted to go last minute souvenir shopping before we went to the Amsterdam Ice Bar. We regrouped a few hours later and headed to the Ice Bar, which was really really cool. We entered a room that was made almost entirely of ice, including the glasses where the alcohol was served! It was very cool--literally--and we were only allowed to be in there for 20 minutes. For some of us, it wasn't enough, but for others, especially those from California and the South, needed that time limit. 

Amsterdam Ice Bar

Ice Bear

After the Ice Bar, we headed out to dinner at a nice Argentinian steakhouse as it was our last meal and also, my birthday (in two days, but we wouldn't be together then unfortunately). It was nice and tasty end to our trip in Europe. Of course, a night in Europe while we are young and in Amsterdam wouldn't be complete without a late night, so we spent the rest of our time enjoying the nightlife.

Our journey ends with a coach ride to the airport. It was bittersweet and sad, and I miss so many people and so many things about Europe. I wish I could have stayed longer with the same number of people, and I wish that I could freeze time and go back so I can relive those experiences. Goodbye Amsterdam, you were beautiful and crazy and wonderful.

Sunrise in Amsterdam, on the way to the airport.